Feedback for Strava's new maps (OpenStreetMap)

Strava is actively working with Mapbox (the open source mapping platform that supplies us with OpenStreetMap) to make sure we offer the best mapping experience for our athletes.

Mapbox gives us the opportunity to create customized maps that fit aesthetically and functionally with Strava. With open source data, errors or missing map assets can be fixed quickly and efficiently, creating the most detailed and robust maps for cycling and running. We believe in the potential and power of maps by OSM and we're focused on giving the Strava community the best experience possible.

Where did Street View go?

Mapbox does not provide Street View functionality at this time. We realize this functionality was valuable for some athletes; we'll do our best to re-incorporate it when possible.

August 14th, 2015:

We’re 100% committed to making Strava better for our athletes, and we hear you loud and clear regarding this switch from Google Maps to OSM. We didn’t anticipate how strongly some of our athletes would react to the change and apologize that it was a sudden disappointment to some of you. We could have done a better job explaining our reasoning and bracing you for the switch, handling the roll-out, taking more time to work with Mapbox, etc.

It may not seem like it now, but we believe deeply that changing to OSM is the best choice we can make for our athletes and our company. There is enormous potential and creative flexibility offered by the new maps and we ask that you stick with us and continue providing feedback as we bring that potential to fruition.

Your reports on the quality of the maps, such as missing map data and satellite image quality, can be addressed. We are working closely Mapbox, our OSM map provider, on both satellite imagery and road data and we’re invested in improving your experience. By providing specific examples of satellite and road data, we can act quickly to update the map data.

We've noted all your comments regarding street view, and understand how important it is to you. The top use for street view seems to center around segments, in viewing segment start and end coordinates as well as viewing the road surface and surroundings. Street view is still available when creating segments, and it may be possible to return street view to other areas of the segment experience. We will have more to share on this soon.

Our designers are compiling initial thoughts on how Strava can leverage certain styles, colors and shading to customize the map experience. We are already incorporating the existing feedback we’ve received here. Please continue to send us your feedback on how the look and feel of the maps can be improved.

- The Strava Team

August 21st, 2015:

When you visit a segment page, you can now click either endpoint of the segment to be brought to the street view for that location. Or, you can select one of the options from the map view menu (pictured below).

This addition is not meant to fully resolve your concerns about the switch to Mapbox. We're doing the best we can to respond to your feedback quickly while still maintaining our commitment to elevate your map experience with Mapbox. It's going to take time and we ask that you stick with us, and we'll continue to take your feedback to heart and iterate whenever possible.

September 2nd, 2015

We've just updated our maps to support four languages: English, French, German and Spanish. Now, if you're traveling or viewing the map in another country, you'll be able to see map labels and place names in your language.

How it works: If you have Strava set to one of the above four languages, you will see map labels in that language. For any other language that is not supported at this time, you will see the default map which displays regional language. To change your language preferences, use the menu at the bottom of any Strava page.

This map update also refreshes imagery for the Satellite map in select areas.

October 22nd, 2015

We're excited to announce updated maps in collaboration with Mapbox, featuring an intuitive display of map data and activity-specific styling. Designed especially with runners and cyclists in mind, we focused on a visual experience that would relay the map information we believe most helpful to our athletes:

Offset road labels for better visibility along activities

Visually distinct running and cycling paths

Highlighted pedestrian areas, outdoor areas, and parks

Vivid terrain styling and high-contrast mountain areas

Lower map label density for urban areas

Major highways and high-traffic roads de-prioritized in grey

Added points of interest most relevant to activity on Strava

Contour lines and elevation labels on satellite view

This is the first of several map projects we are working on as part of our ongoing goal to make your mapping experience on Strava more accurate, informative and rich.

Comentarios

@Thomas Joynt Excellent, balanced article on Cyclingtips that accurately reflects the concerns of the user base. Hadn't heard of Ride with GPS and tried it out yesterday. Pretty good! So that's one step away from Strava Premium ...

I don't care what maps are used, so long as they work. There's a few of my mates whose rides I can't check out on the app as the maps are blank grids. One of them is Sydney, pop. 4 million. See a problem with that?

@brendan sheemsIf you are gonna complain about the maps, at least complain about something that's actually bad. Like bad satellite coverage in some areas etc.

I found the Ride from which you took the screenshot. On my Strava app in iOS it looks good (even if the app uses Apple maps and not Mapbox. BTW, is it possible to use Mapbox maps on iOS?). And on the website it's also good. Sydney seems to have good OSM-data. Look at my screenshot below, from iOS (left) and the Strava website (right).

You are not the first example of this. I've seen several people here complain about horrible OSM maps, but when i look at these peoples last activities on Strava, I seem mostly good OSM maps, and in some cases the OSM maps are better and have more details than Google.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the maps provided by Mapbox is perfect. In many places the OSM-data could be a lot better, especially the satellite imagery from Mapbox. And while I haven't used Street View myself, I can understand that people miss this option.

Strava obviously did this to save money but it was a huge mistake. I'm going to something else. Bizarre that people are saying we should update OSM ourselves. Really? Also a "community" map is never going to have street view or Googles level of accuracy given the years they have put into this. iIt's ridiculous.

Canceling Premium as I am losing one of the features I was paying for. One of the most important features.

I think Strava underestimated the outrage this would cause not that they have ever been good about listing to their customers.

I guess my new Garmin 520 won't be using any of its Strava functionality.

- In my area, several roads and paths are missing from the map. (Yes, I know I can add them myself, but should I really need to do that when I am a premium member?).
- Satellite imagery has useless resolution. If I can't zoom in, what's the use of satellite imagery????

I found wonderful MTB downhill sections in my area thanks to Strava and OSM. Google maps would never allow this (tried Google Map maker : my changeset is stuck in "pending approval" status since several weeks ; no feedback from Google).

If Strava leaves OSM than I will leave Strava.

What's the use for me to have another Google maps-based application ? Streetview does not show gnarky single trails like the one I am looking for.

Then :

a) having Google stuff requires money

b) Premium members give money

c) the ones who are missing Google stuff are also the ones who are Premium members (see numerous "I will stop my contract" threatening messages)

a + b + c gives the following : Premium members get Google stuff, free members not.

(the only question mark : how is it possible that Google maps maker contributors accept to work for Google for free ??)

Are you aware that people actually use Strava for mountainbike? And that a good, high resolution aeral image is necessary to create segments and analyze a ride?

I have been injured for five weeks and logged my first training since the injury yesterday. I will give you a week or two to upgrade to decent maps, after that I'm probably using some other training app/software.

As a mountain biker and trail runner I love the move to OSM; the detail and accuracy of trails is far superior to Google's. I've spent a lot of time, both professionally and for my own interest, comparing trail map data for different map providers and nothing comes close to OSM. My only complaint is that the cartographic design choices make differentiation between trails and roads difficult to visualize. AllTrails does a good job in their cartographic design choices though they still have room for improvement.

Johnny Bigoud's experience echo mine exactly. Using the heatmap plus my own rides I mapped the local mountain bike trails last fall which is now visible to all Strava users. Do my stats make my opinion any more valid?

There are a lot of OCD OSM mappers out there looking for new areas to map. If the maps are lacking in any particular area it wouldn't take too much effort to find someone to update the maps for you. Strava and Mapbox should look at working with the OSM community to highlight areas that need improving.

Here on Phuket I sometime use the detailed imagery from Google maps to find new routes by zooming in on previous rides because it is simply not possible during a ride to explore every single track you pass. So I check later into which general direction a certain track went off to. With OSM's extremely poor detail this is simply impossible.

I just played around with OSM a little bit to try and recreate a route I did today but with the very grainy map/picture... of jungle, I found it to be impossible or maybe I'm doing something wrong?

Also, I really miss the Instagram - Strava integration where before your picture would show on the Strava map's exact location. Now you need to 'finf a location' well when you're in the middle of the jungle there is no know location. Is this also an OSM issue?

Well I'm not really sure how, now that OSM is only a database, this would change my opinion rather than strengthen it? Even though I can really see how OSM would be an addition to Strava it should be that 'an addition'. But taking away the Google maps option entirely is a decrease in functionality within the Strava environment itself. Nobody wants to have to go elsewhere (and master different apps) when everything was right there before.

I like riding. What I want - along with many others here - is Google Earth type resolution and Streetview. And I don't want to mess around wasting time between portals - I want it at a one-stop-shop. Like Strava used to be [remember that?]

So I've cancelled my Strava Premium and just signed up for a Ride with GPS premium account. It provides what I now need - not as good as Strava was, +more expensive, but much now better. I'll probably continue to use free Strava for the social interaction.

I'm not sure posting here is really going to make any difference. I don't think Strava management is listening or even cares at this point about their premium members that want Google Maps back. There hasn't been a meaningful update in over two months. I guess Strava is adopting the ignore-them-and-they'll-go-away strategy...